Waltz, Cuban Diplomat Clash in UN Shouting Match

U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla traded shouts on the UN General Assembly floor Tuesday. Rodríguez approached the podium during Waltz's speech and called him a liar.

Waltz was arguing against the annual resolution condemning the U.S. embargo.
He accused Cuba's leaders of owning luxury real estate, jets and Rolex watches.
Cuban delegates banged their table and demanded a point of order.
Waltz told Rodríguez to back up; the meeting was then suspended.

Why it matters: The confrontation reflects a sharp escalation in U.S. pressure on Cuba this year. In late January, President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on any country supplying oil to Cuba.

That move has largely cut fuel to the island, causing widespread blackouts.
Rodríguez accused Waltz of lying and offending the dignity of Cuba's people and government.

The story so far

4 steps · since Oct 27

Oct 2712:09 PMWaltz, Cuban Diplomat Clash in UN Shouting MatchYou are here
Oct 2711:37 PMCuban Diplomat Expelled After UN Shouting Match With Waltz18 sources
Oct 28UN Condemns US Cuba Embargo as More Countries Sit Out18 sources
Oct 30Cuba Welcomes Home Diplomat Expelled After UN Altercation5 sourcesLatest

How 32 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

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Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 32 sources

32 sources · 37 articles · 62% Right coverage

Where they split: Coverage divides over whether Cuba's crisis stems mainly from U.S. sanctions or from its own government's corruption and mismanagement.

Center coverage, 5 sources: The center sees a break from diplomatic decorum that captures rising tension ahead of the annual embargo vote.

KSAT 12 San Antonio1w+US and Cuban officials engage in a shouting match during a UN debate over the economic embargo CTV News1w+‘This is America. Back up’: U.S., Cuba have shouting match at UN Associated Press1w+US and Cuban officials engage in a shouting match during a UN debate over the economic embargo NOTUS1w+Mike Waltz Gets Into a Shouting Match With Top Cuban Official at the U.N. - The Washington Sun The Hill1w+‘Back away from this podium’: UN ambassador posts video of confrontation with Cuban reps in General Assembly Hall

Left coverage, 7 sources: The left sees Waltz's outburst as a sign the administration will keep tightening a fuel blockade that is harming ordinary Cubans.

The New Republic1w+Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Get Into Shout-Off at U.N.ABC News1w+'This is America!' Mike Waltz says as he and Cuban delegation get into shouting match at UN Mediaite1w+WATCH: Trump Ambassador Gets Into Wild Shouting Match Over Cuba on UN Floor Miami Herald1w+‘Back off, this is not Havana’: U.S. ambassador clashes with Cuba diplomats at UN Raw Story1w+‘Back away!’ Trump’s UN ambassador erupts in shouting match with Cuban official The Boston Globe1w+US and Cuban official shouting match at UN debate The Independent1w+Trump official is branded a 'liar' during shouting match with Cuban officials at UN

Right coverage, 20 sources: The right sees Waltz standing firm against a Cuban delegation it says tried to intimidate him and assaulted his staffer.

New York Post1w+Mike Waltz gets in shouting match with Cuban delegate at UN as American staffer assaulted RedState1w+‘Back Up!’ Cuban Official Charges Mike Waltz at UN, Staffer Assaulted in Wild Scene NewsBusters1w+NBC Was the Only Network Newscast to Show U.S.-Cuba Blowup at the UN The Washington Times1w+U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and Cuban delegation erupt in shouting match at U.N.Wall Street Journal1w+U.S. Expels Cuban Diplomat After Extraordinary U.N. Verbal Clash Breitbart News1w+Cuban 'Diplomats' Form Mob Scene at U.N. as Ambassador Mike Waltz Exposes Castro Family Riches Daily Mail1w+Chaos at the UN as Mike Waltz explodes at Cuba's foreign minister in fiery showdown: 'Back up!'Hot Air1w+Cuba Makes a Scene at the United Nations OutKick1w+Shouting match erupts at UN as Cuban foreign minister moves toward US ambassador's podium: 'Back up!'PJ Media1w+All Hell Breaks Loose at the United Nations: Waltz Spokesman Assaulted RSBNetwork1w+Mike Waltz clashes with Cuban foreign minister in heated confrontation at United Nations The Blaze1w+US ambassador shouts down Cuban officials trying to hijack UN speech: 'Back away! This isn't Havana!'The Daily Caller1w+‘Back Up, Ambassador. Back Away!’: Top US Diplomat Shouts At Foreign Official Trying To Intimidate Him Mid-Speech The Gateway Pundit1w+WHOA! “BACK UP, AMBASSADOR… This Isn’t Havana!” – UN Ambassador Mike Waltz Gets In Shouting Match with Cuban Foreign Minister at UN General Assembly Hall (VIDEO) * The Gateway Pundit * by Jordan Conradson The Right Scoop1w+UNREAL VIDEO - Cuba tries to INTIMIDATE UN Ambassador Mike Waltz and things escalate QUICKLY The Western Journal1w+Watch: UN Chaos - Mike Walz Has to Order Approaching Cuban Minister Back to Seat as Communist Officials Fly into Rage Townhall1w+'Back Up!' Mike Waltz Faces Down Cuba’s Furious Foreign Minister in Intense Confrontation at the UN Twitchy1w+Sit DOWN! UN Amb. Mike Waltz Goes OFF on Cuban Official Trying to BULLY Him During Remarks (WATCH)Washington Examiner1w+Mike Waltz gets into shouting match with Cuban foreign minister on UN floor ZeroHedge1w+Watch: Chaos Erupts At UN As Mike Waltz Gets Into Screaming Match With Cuban Diplomat, U.S. Staffer Allegedly Assaulted

What’s next: The General Assembly votes Wednesday on the resolution. Last year it passed 165-7, with 12 abstentions.

Argentina, Ukraine and Hungary opposed the measure for the first time last year.
A video obtained by the New York Post shows a Cuban delegate grabbing at spokesman J.P. Freire's phone.
Will U.S. lobbying change the vote margin compared with last year?
Will the UN or Cuba respond to Waltz's account of the incident involving his spokesman?